Choosing next Appleton police chief is private affair

Picking a new police chief to succeed retiring Pete Helein could take several months, but the public shouldn't expect to take part in the process.

By state statute the city's Police and Fire Commission is charged with appointing a new chief — a specifically isolated group of community members to avoid political persuasion.

Dale Schumaker, the longtime chair of the group, makes no apologies for the private negotiations that take place behind closed doors to winnow candidates. Final decisions get announced in an open portion of a meeting.

"Personnel situations are horrible to be out in the public because it can backfire down the road," Schumaker said. "The public or council could make all the noise they want, but we won't listen to it."

Consider Alderman Jeff Jirschele a noisemaker.

He wants more openness and more consideration "for the people who write the checks."

"We've gotten great hires in the past, like Pete Helein, but I think it's time for an overhaul of the Police and Fire Commission because I've been disappointed with how they operate," Jirschele said.

In the past, Jirschele has voted against Mayor Tim Hanna's reappointments of some longtime members of the commission. He's also threatened to defund chief positions in city budgets.

Five commission members, and five alone, will make the decision on a new long-term police chief after Jim Lewis finishes his interim role: Schumaker, Pam DeLeest, Ron Dunlap, Barbara Luedtke and Harvey Sampson.

"We don't consider outside advice frankly because that's not how the state statute is set up," Schumaker said. "For us it's real simple and goes back to the saying: A camel is just a horse designed by committee."